“They ask thee concerning women’s courses. Say: They are a hurt and a pollution: So keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean. But when they have purified themselves, ye may approach them in any manner, time, or place ordained for you by God. For God loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.” (Holy Quran 2: 222).

Islamic Law was made to protect five things (religion, self, mind, offspring, and property), which are the main rights of human in this life.

PROTECTION OF RELIGION

Because religion is the main reformer in every aspect of human life, it was normal for laws to protect it, considering it one of human rights and the most important right, by making laws that help to protect it from everything might affect it.

The Quran has mentioned worships that establish faith and protect it in the believer’s hearts. Some are mentally such as thinking and meditating of Allah’s (S.W) creation to realize His greatness (S.W), and some are physically mentally such as prayers, or physically such as fasting, or financially like almsgiving or charity, or mentally financially such as performing pilgrimage.

To protect faith and religion, Allah (S.W) forbade believing in someone else except him, either by belief or by action. He (S.W) forbade everything leads to that such as exaggeration of obeying the prophets and the righteous, to believe they are agents between Allah (S.W) and his creation, and to believe that good or bad is in anyone else’s hand except Allah (S.W).

Allah (S.W) obligated the community and the government to protect religion, to ease the means of practicing it. Thus, it must defend it; prevent every thing that leads to disobedience and disbelieving, by stopping the guilty and performing the punishments according to the law.

PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE

Life is Allah’s (S.W) gift to human, and no one has the right to trespass it, even the person himself; Allah (S.W) creates humans and honors them to perform His (S.W) tasks on earth, and to test their capabilities of performing of worshipping Him (S.W).

Islam protected humanity by its laws. It obligates the community to look after the poor and give them the basic needs, shelter, food, drink, clothing and other needs of life. It obligates charity and almsgiving, which come under the law of cooperation and helping one another among individuals and organizations to achieve social solidity in the society.

“On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.” (Holy Quran 5:32).

The Holy Quran describes Muslims, who avoid slaying innocent people (which the Holy Quran calls them ‘the souls that Allah (S.W) has made sacred’) as true Muslim believers. The Holy Quran says,

“Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit fornication; and any that does this (not only) meets punishment.” (Holy Quran 25:68).

The Quranic verses continue to warn of attempts on the life of innocent people, and give the wronged person the right to ask for fair and just punishment for his/her opponent.

“Nor take life – which Allah has made sacred – except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him nor exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law).” (Holy Quran 17:33).

The Islamic Law of Equality is one important warranty that prevents the spreading of crime. The person, who knows that killing another person will definitely lead to his/her own death, will avoid committing such crime; consequently, people will feel safe, live in peace, and enjoy the right of living.

The Holy Quran says,

ولكم في القصاص حياةٌ يا أولي الألباب لعلكم تتقون

“In the Law of Equality there is (saving of) Life to you, o ye men of understanding; that ye may restrain yourselves.” (Holy Quran 2:179).

To preserve and keep this great principle (protecting the lives of people), the Holy Quran legislates Jihad for the sake of protecting the weak from prosecution and death.

“And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? Men, women, and children, whose cry is: “Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help! Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject Faith Fight in the cause of Evil: So fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan.” (Holy Quran 4:75 – 76).

I need to mention here, that the first life that Allah (S.W) forbids aggression upon is the person’s own life. The person who commits suicide or harms him/her self will be subject to grave and harsh penalties and punishment. Prophet Mohammad said,

“Whosoever jump from a mountain, drinks poison (with the intention of killing him/her self) will be in the Hellfire forever. Whosoever kills him/herself with a piece of iron, he will continuously do the same to him/herself in the hereafter, while he/she in the Hellfire and remain forever.”

PROTECTION OF THE MIND

The mind, the ability to reason, and the ability to understand are properties of humanity, which Allah (S.W) gives to us and honors us above the other creations.

“We have honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors, above a great part of our creation.” (Holy Quran 17: 70).

Islam considers the mind entrusted and responsible for religious and secular responsibilities. The mind is the means that leads and guides a person to know the great facts, which Allah (S.W) asks us to discover using sound reasoning, and not just blind faith.

The mind leads anyone, who thinks deeply and reasonably of this universe, to the existence of Allah (S.W) and His characteristics.

إن في خلق السماوات والأرض واختلاف الليل والنهار لآيات لأولي الألباب

“Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.” (Holy Quran 3: 190).

Islam forbids neglecting the mind doing its duties of showing and leading a person to the truth, welfare, and the goodness of his/her life on earth and in the hereafter. Therefore, Allah (S.W) forbids magic, sorcery, and any other deeds that affect our mind and prevent it from performing its duties.

Furthermore, Islam forbids alcohol in all its forms and considers it a satanic abomination and deceiving to humans, in which Satan wants to destroy the relationship between the person and his/her Lord (Allah (S.W)) by making him/her imbibe alcohol and keep him/her away from prayer and other worship. In addition, Satan, in this way, intends to destroy the social relationships between people.

“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan’s handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper. Satan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not then abstain?” (Holy Quran 5: 90 -91).

PROTECTION OF PROGENY

Sexual reproduction is the means that keeps human species in existence, and for that reason, Allah (S.W) creates the sexual impulse in both sexes. Allah (S.W) calls humans to keep their progeny by forming families through marriage, which Islam considers is the only lawful way of having children and maintaining our species.

Islam encourages marriage and states its rules, restraints, and duties in a perfect social system, which organizes the relationships between the husband and wife and among the family in general. Islam also imposes a number of duties on the parents towards their children, among these are to raise and educate them well, to care for them, to meet their needs, and many other things, which are the requirements of ideal parent-hood.

In addition, Islam forbids aggression on the child by burying him/her alive or by intentional abortion, and considers it a great sin.

“Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin.” (Holy Quran 17: 31).

In order to protect the family, Islam forbids adultery, any other shameful deeds, and whatever leads to these deeds; such as the mixing of men and women.

ولا تقربوا الزنى إنه كان فاحشةً وساء سبيلاً

“Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).” (Holy Quran 17: 32)

In addition, Islam imposes the wearing of a veil for women in front of strange men to avoid seduction and sexual desire, for in Islam; women are precious jewels protected from being trifled with, misuse, and abuse. Allah (S.W) says,

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Holy Quran 17: 59).

PROTECTION OF PROPERTY

Property is the mainstay of life, and Islam considers it as Allah’s (S.W), which He (S.W) makes man a guardian over it, and allows him/her to earn them in lawful ways and use them moderately.

Islam encourages work, production, and earning money and other property by lawful means.

“No earning is better that what the person earns from his own work, and whatsoever the man spends (in lawful matters) on himself, his wife, his children, his family and his servant is charity.”

Once, the Prophet’s (s) companions noticed the activeness and the hard working of a man, they asked the Prophet saying, “We wish that his hard work was for the cause of Allah (S.W).” Prophet Mohammad replied,

“If he did so to care for his children, his old parents, or for himself (In lawful deeds), it is for Allah’s (S.W) cause, and if he did so for pride and hypocrisy, then it is for Satan’s cause.”

There are two types of earnings, one is pleasant, and the other is noxious. The pleasant earning is the substance that one earns in lawful ways, such as trading, manufacturing, agriculture, and public and private employment.

“O ye who believe, Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him ye worship.” (Holy Quran 2: 172).

The noxious earning is the property that one earns in exploitive ways, such as lending money with interest, bribes, tricks, and trading in goods that are harmful to humanity.
ولا تأكلوا أموالكم بينكم بالباطل وتدلوا بها إلى الحكام لتأكلوا فريقاً من أموال الناس بالإثم وأنتم تعلمون
“And do not eat up your property among yourselves for vanities, nor use it as bait for the judges, with intent that ye may eat up wrongfully and knowingly a little of (other) people’s property.” (Holy Quran 2: 188).

In this regard, Islam has a comprehensive principle. Allah (S.W) says,

ويحل لهم الطيبات ويحرم عليهم الخبائث

“He allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure).” (Holy Quran 7: 157) Thus, any earning that does not harm the person who earns it or others is a lawful and pleasant, and the remainder of the earnings are noxious and forbidden.

Islam also guides how to spend money correctly. It does not allow one to spend as he/she wishes. Squandering and spending without control and Neglecting paying the rights of the poor, are satanic deeds. Allah (S.W) says,

“And render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer: But squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his Lord (himself) ungrateful.” (Holy Quran 17: 26 – 27).

These properties are Allah’s (S.W) giving and means that He (S.W) made us as heirs and guardians to use them for lawful purposes, and the greatest deed among these lawful deeds is to spend and give charity to the poor and the needy. Allah (S.W) says,

وآتوهم من مال الله الذي آتاكم

“Give them something yourselves out of the means which Allah has given to you.”(Holy Quran 24: 33).

“And spend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs. For, those of you who believe and spend (in charity),- for them is a great Reward.” (Holy Quran 57: 7).

Islamic Laws and instructions protect these five essentials, which are important human rights. Whomsoever considers and practices them, Allah (S.W) will reward him/her with happiness in this life and the hereafter. Whomsoever ignores and turns away from them; will face misery and punishment on the Day of Judgment.

“Whosoever follows My Guidance, will not lose his way, nor fall into misery. But whosoever turns away from My Message, verily for him is a life narrowed down, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment. He will say: “O my Lord! why hast Thou raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)? (Allah will say): “Thus didst Thou, when Our Signs came unto thee, disregard them: so wilt thou, this day, be disregarded.” (Holy Quran 20: 123 – 126).

“…we believe that they reflect other forms of religiously-inspired intolerance and barbarity that are thriving amongst certain sections of the Muslim population in Britain: including, but not limited to, the denigration and oppression of women, the molestation of young children, the committing of so-called honor killings, homophobia, anti-Semitism, and continued support for those responsible for terrorist atrocities…”

I reply:

Firstly, it is not ethical or correct in any way to say that molestation of young children, honor killings, support for terrorist atrocities, oppression of women are religiously inspired. What the EDL are suggesting in this part of their mission statement is that Islam teaches and practices them.

This is an insult to the religion of Islam and Muslims who practise it. Here are some pointers for you to think about regarding these accusations. I have put together my immediate thoughts but will place links below each refutation for a more detailed and further reading.

Molestation of young children:
Before Islam came, marrying young girls was the practice of people and tribes of that era. During the period when the Prophet (s) was sent this was the continuous general practice and culture of the people. The reason they practised marrying young was because girls would mature at around 7-10 years old. They would have periods, mature attitudes, and were ready for having children at that age. They were able to take care of the household, work and communicate like an 18 year old today. You will find this in any good history book.

Secondly, no one during that era made this claim which you are making, that the Prophet ‘molested young girls’. If it was a crime or unethical at that time, the non-Muslims in that period would have vilified the Prophet Mohammed for that action in particular, but they did not. Only many years later, when it was considered socially taboo and the social dynamics had changed, did society begin to criticise this.

Thirdly, it was only something recommended, not something obligatory from our religion. Hence, no Muslims practise it now; girls this day and age are not mature and ready for marriage at that age.

Fourthly, look at how homosexuality was viewed in the 70’s and 80’s – slogans like ‘kill the homos’ were common and homosexuality was not tolerated at all, but now it’s considered intolerant not to tolerate it. With time, social dynamics change, so people change and, likewise, behavior changes also.

In the 1880s, the age of consent in some countries was 7 and in others it was 10. In the 1920s, the age of consent in Scotland and Spain was 12. In 2007, in Spain and Argentina, the age of consent was 13 see (1). So be careful not to throw stones whilst you live in a glass house.

Honor killings:
This is prohibited in Islam. Allah says in the Quran: “whoever takes the life of one soul has taken the life of the whole of mankind” (Chapter 5). He also says “and do not take the life of anyone which Allah has made sacred”. So how did you attribute the cultural practices of some Muslims to the religion Islam?

To say honor killings are religiously inspired is a gross misinterpretation of Islam. Furthermore, what about the honor killing that goes on here in the UK amongst non-Muslims i.e., Raoul Mout (2)? We do not claim this is inspired by Christianity. Women are being killed by their partners for changing their status on facebook to ‘single’ (3), or by adding their photos on facebook (4). In this country, two women are killed every week through domestic violence (5) – honor killing in the culture of Great Britain. So, again, don’t throw stones when you live in a glass house.

Support for terrorist activities:
You will never find Islam calling or supporting such activitities. The Quran explicitly prohibits this. So to say this is religiously inspired is a gross misinterpretation of Islam. Just take a look at the work this Islamic organisation is actively doing to speak out against terrorism (6, 7). This is just one Islamic organisation; there are many all over UK refuting and condemning terrorism. Furthermore, when terrorism inspired by western democracy or communism or Zionism appears, why is it you simply turn a blind eye (8, 9,10).

Oppression of women:
I take it you mean by this the covering up of her body and face, i.e. burka, or hijab. This is not oppression; it is freedom! Ask any Muslim woman if she wants to wear this attire or if she feels oppressed wearing it. Here in the UK, Muslim women have more freedom than in some countries, so if you see a woman in a burka here in the UK it’s almost guaranteed that she is doing this of her own free will. Your problem with the burka is here in the UK. So it’s not oppression, it’s that women are expressing their right to wear what they choose! It’s their democratic liberal right to dress and look how they like. To force them to take off the burka or face veil is oppressing them. So it seems your intolerance is the real oppression of Muslim women and not Islam.

Barbarity of the 7th century understanding of Islam:
To say that is to say that Islam is a barbaric religion, period. This then means that, by default, all Muslims are barbaric without exception, because Islam was revealed in the 7th Century, and it has never been more pure in its teachings at any one time more than that time.

These days, Muslims have added practices to the religion that were not from it; we reject all additions and subtractions, for that matter. Muslims take offence to this claim that Islam is barbaric. The main aims and goals of the shariah are five – to protect life, property, honor, religion, and intellect. Some scholars add freedoms of speech and actions – how can this be barbaric! Anyone with common sense will agree these are moral values that all religions and ways of life with decency will protect.

As for the penal law of taking a life for a life – is it not better to be severe in taking one person’s life in order to save many lives than put hundreds of others’ lives at risk? Just look at the fear that spread around the UK during the time of the Yorkshire ripper in the past and the recent Raoul Mout rampage, just to mention a few.

Exposing the Western Barbaric way of life 2011

EDL further claim:

“… the 7th century interpretation of Islam are antithesis of western democracy…” they also say: “ it (Islam)runs counter to all that we hold dear within our British liberal democracy…”

I say:

Let’s take a glimpse at our dear, western democratic values. The political values of liberalism have caused the very social decay being witnessed today. In February 2009, the Children’s Society (11) launched the report ‘A Good Childhood: Searching for Values in a Competitive Age’ (12), which presented evidence stating that “Britain and the U.S. have more broken families than other countries, and our families are less cohesive in the way they live and eat together. British children are rougher with each other and live more riskily in terms of alcohol, drugs and teenage pregnancy, and they are less inclined to stay in education. This comes against a background of much greater income inequality: many more children live in relative poverty in Britain and the U.S.” [11] The report also supports this article’s conclusions that social breakdown and decay is due to the premise of liberalism – individualism.[ (13)]

Child Abuse
The atomistic trends in modern liberal societies have affected the treatment towards the most vulnerable. The seventeen months of torture and agony inflicted on ‘Baby P’ is probably one of the worst stories of child abuse in the UK. The baby was found dead after months of torture with broken ribs and a broken back (14). In the UK, according to NSPCC research, 7% of children experienced serious physical abuse at the hands of their parents or carers during childhood (15). In the US, an estimated 3.6 million children were accepted by state and local child protection services as alleged victims of child maltreatment for investigation or assessment.

Treatment of Women
Liberalism’s political values have affected the way British society treats women. According to Amnesty International (UK) (16), 167 women are raped everyday in the UK. Domestic violence accounts for nearly a quarter of all recorded violent crime in England and Wales – one in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime and one incident of domestic violence is reported to the police every minute. The UK is not alone in its maltreatment of women; in the US, a woman is raped every 6 minutes and battered every 15 seconds (16).

So let the EDL take a good look at their mission statement and realise they live in a glass house, so they should not throw stones.

I could not transfer the links (i.e. numbers in the brackets) from my word document. If anyone wants the word version of the above text, please let me know.

The non Muslim hate preachers out there who often claim the Quran is a book of terror, that it orders the death and destruction of all non-believers, one of the most common verses they use to prove their argument is verse 4 of Surah Muhammad which is the 47th Surah in the Noble Quran.

The verse reads:

“Therefore, when you meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when you have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are you commanded): but if it had been Allah’s Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost.”

The non-Muslims hate preachers quote this and claim this is the verse of terrorism and murder. But is that the case? Or is it the same case as always, that the non-Muslim hate preachers are simply being dis-honest with themselves, and their fellow people, deliberately twisting the true meaning of these verses. Seeking to show some verses and hide others. We shall expose their sly and unjust claims.

Let us analyse this verse to see if it does truly preach terrorism or not. The part that the non-Muslims hate preacher uses the most with this verse is when it reads:

“Therefore, when you meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks…”

The verse is referring to battle, and war, that in a battle, when we meet the unbelieving army that we should aim for the neck. Is that terrorism, is that barbaric? Off course not, this is very logical, and this is the harsh reality of wars and battles, people get killed, and people go into a battle and war with the intention of killing their enemy. If an army gives you instructions on how to attack your enemy during combat, would that be classified as terrorism? Of course it wouldn’t, so why is it classed as terrorism or barbarity when the Quran gives Muslims instructions on how they should fight during a battle with an enemy?

So therefore there is nothing wrong with this part of the verse, it does not preach terrorism, or barbarity, not even close…try another one!!

The second part of the verse that the non-Muslim hate preacher has a problem with is when it reads:

“…bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom…”

What exactly is wrong with this command? Logically after a battle there is a winner and a loser, and obviously after a battle several enemy combatants will come into the hands of the opposition, and logically they will be taken in as prisoners and held for ransom. Is this cruel? Is this barbarity? Not even close, this is the simply the harsh reality of war, in war and battle you risk death, and you risk capture, this is the reality of such events.

Furthermore, why do they not notice that the verse even says the prisoners can be released out of generosity or ransom! A ransom is not the only means of freedom, a Muslim has two options, either let the person go out of your own generosity, or if you want, you can get a ransom out of the prisoner.

So in conclusion this verse preaches no terrorism, it preaches no barbarity, all it gives are commands for the Muslims on how they should fight their enemy during battle, and what they should do with any prisoners they have.

In recent years, a great deal of attention in the media has been given to the threat of “Islamic Fundamentalism”. Unfortunately, due to a twisted mixture of biased reporting in the Western media and the actions of some ignorant Muslims, the word “Islam” has become almost synonymous with “terrorism”.

However, when one analyses the situation, the question that should come to mind is: do the teachings of Islam encourage terrorism?

The answer: certainly not! Islam totally forbids the terrorist acts that are carried out by some misguided people. It should be remembered that all religions have cults and misguided followers, so it is their teachings that should be looked at, not the actions of a few individuals.

Unfortunately, in the media, whenever a Muslim commits a heinous act, he is labelled a “Muslim terrorist”. However, when Serbs murder and rape innocent women in Bosnia, they are not called “Christian terrorists”, nor are the activities in Northern Ireland labelled “Christian terrorism”. Also, when right-wing Christians in the U. S. bomb abortion clinics, they are not called “Christian terrorists”.

Reflecting on these facts, one could certainly conclude that there is a double-standard in the media! Although religious feelings play a significant role in the previously mentioned “Christian” conflicts, the media does not apply religious labels because they assume that such barbarous acts have nothing to do with the teachings of Christianity. However, when something happens involving a Muslim, they often try to put the blame on Islam itself — and not the misguided individual.

Certainly, Islamic Law allows war – any religion or civilization that did not would never survive – but it certainly does not condone attacks against innocent people, women or children. The Arabic word “jihad”, which is often translated as “Holy War”, simply means “to struggle”. The word for “war” in Arabic is “harb”, not “jihad”.

“Struggling”, i.e. “making jihad”, to defend Islam, Muslims or to liberate a land where Muslims are oppressed is certainly allowed (and even encouraged) in Islam. However, any such activities must be done according to the teachings of Islam. Islam also clearly forbids “taking the law into your own hands”, which means that individual Muslims cannot go around deciding who they want to kill, punish or torture. Trial and punishment must be carried out by a lawful authority and a knowledgeable judge.

Also, when looking at events in the Muslim World, it should be kept in mind that a long period of colonialism ended fairly recently in most Muslim countries. During this time, the peoples in these countries were culturally, materially and religiously exploited – mostly by the so-called “Christian” nations of the West. This painful period has not really come to an end in many Muslim countries. The majority of Muslim countries are still controlled by the non-Muslims through agencies such as the World Bank, the IMF and the UN. These agencies, in effect, control the economies of many Muslim countries. The weapon of sanctions is used when a Muslim country steps out of line, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths through starvation. Failing this, they resort to carpet bombing of entire Muslim cities to impose their ‘new world order’.

Also, through the media, people in the West are made to believe that tyrants like Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Moamar Qaddafi in Libya are “Islamic” leaders — when just the opposite is true. Neither of these rulers even professed Islam as an ideology, but only used Islamic slogans to manipulate their powerless populations. They had about as much to do with Islam as Hitler had to do with Christianity!

In reality, many Middle Eastern regimes which people think of as being “Islamic” oppress the practice of Islam in their countries.

So suffice to say that “terrorism” and killing innocent people directly contradicts the teachings of Islam, yet Muslims are the biggest victim of terrorism or, to be more precise, state terrorism. The 650,000 deaths in Iraq since the US led invasion is testimony to that.

Many times when non-Muslims argue against the Quran, claiming it preaches violence and terrorism, they go on to quote Surah Al Baqarah verse 191, the verse reads as follows:

“And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for trial and oppression are worse than killing; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.”

The non-Muslim hate preachers and orientalists quote this verse and argue that the verse teaches terrorism, and that the verse commands Muslims to slay the unbelievers wherever we catch them. Does the passage actually preach terrorism? Or is that the non-Muslim hate preacher quoting this passage out of its proper context? Well the answer is that the verse is being quoted out of context, which is very sad because it is blatant mis-interpretation and blatant lying because it is not difficult to quote this passage in context, here is the context of this passage:

The verse before it reads:
Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors.

Then the verse in debate says:
“And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for trial and oppression are worse than killing; but fight them not at the sacred mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.”

But read on to the verse after the verse in debate for a clearer picture:
But if they cease, Allah is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful

Now carry on to the subsequent verse:
And fight them on until there is no more trial or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who continue oppression.

So here is the passage being quoted in context, and as you can see when the verse is quoted in context one will notice there is no terrorism or genocide being preached or advocated! The context is if MUSLIMS GET ATTACKED then Muslims have the right to attack back, and the context is very clear in that. The theme comes into play on verse 190, not verse 191 which non-Muslims hate preachers quote alone. The non-Muslim should quote from verse 190 onwards, if they did that they would see that this is a defensive war, not an offensive one, if people attack the Muslims then the Muslims have the right to attack back, and that is exactly what these verses are saying.

The verses even say that if the people who started the fight begin to stop and make peace than we too must also stop and make peace as well, far from terrorism!!

So it is that simple, verse 191 does not advocate terrorism or genocide, it advocates self-defense as can be seen from it in context starting from verse 190.

An EDL member claimed in a post that the Prophet Mohammed killed many people unjustly and was a murderer and warlord.

One of the incidents he quoted to justify his claim was that the prophet (s) ordered the killing of a Jewish poet, so his companions carried this out.

I gave some foundations in a post which all of a sudden disappeared soon after I posted it and the thread closed down – typical of that forum! (EDL forum that is). It was so disappointing especially when I wrote extensively about why and how fabricated ahadeeth (sayings and actions of the prophet) appeared in the early and later part of Islam and what the scholars of Islam did and are doing to expose them and confine them.

However the foundations I mentioned spoke mainly about the authenticity and science of hadeeth. It also related reasons why orientalists made up lies about Islam and how Allah (God) promised he would preserve the truth (Islam). The way he preserved it was through bringing forth scholars who specialised in checking the authenticity of ahadeeth, and incidents attributed to the Prophet Mohammed.

The EDL member then said:
“Ok, according to Bukhari, Muhammed ordered the death of Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf, what level of authenticity do you regard Bukhari as?”

I said: Indeed the level of Bukhari is authentic and its ahadeth are acceptable, and we do indeed find part of the incident of the poet being assassinated (Kaáb ibn Ashraf) in Bukhari. However it is only part of the complete incident. To arrive at a complete picture of the incident we need to examine other sources as well to see the truth of the incident and why he was killed.

So when we look further a field we find according to Montgomery and Watt (orientalists) that he (Kaáb ibn Ashraf) plotted with the Quraish to kill the Prophet Mohammed. This would not have been a problem had Kaab been at war with the him but remember he was a Jew in Madina and bound by a treaty with the Muslims. After the Quraish suffered a defeat at the battle of Badr he became treacherous to his oath and agreement and went to Mecca to incite the Quraish and plot to kill Mohammed. Thus according to the customs of the society at that time (Jews, Christians, Muslims and Pagans) one who breaks his oath or treaty with an aim to kill others is to be killed. So that is why we found no objection to his killing by the remaining Jews in Madinah, they were shocked and fearful after the incident.

Uri Rubin also quotes from early sources claiming that Zamakshari, al-Tabarsi, al-Razi and al-Baydaw all agreed with the above and added that Mohammed was informed by Gabriel that Ka ‘b had signed an agreement with the Quraish to kill the Prophet Mohammed.

As for his (Kaáb ibn Ashraf) insulting poetry against the Prophet Mohammed, this crime was secondary to his plotting to kill Mohammed. Ka áb use to write and openly speak his evil poetry in Madinah about the Prophet where the Prophet was residing with his companions, yet the prophet did not kill or ordered his killing there. He could have easily killed him then if that was the reason for killing him. But no Ka ab was killed in Mekka when he went to plot the killing of Mohammed and incite another war between the Quraish and the Muslims. He was assassinated by the Prophets companions in Mekka.

So the situation was not as you claim; that Mohammed killed a poet for making up poetry insulting him.

You have a better, clearer picture of the incident. I am sure no one would disagree that to kill someone who is plotting to kill you, and also inciting another war is a wise and praiseworthy decision.